Electric torsion power meter



Oct. 2,1928. 1,685,964

W. W. SMITH ET AL ELECTRIC TORSION POWER METER Filed July 22, 1924 s Sheets-Sheet 1 FIJI. U

1N VENTOR WW/iam W ism/Th.

TTORNEY Oct. 2, 1928.

' W. W. SMITH ET AL ELECTRIC TORSION POWER METER Filed July 22, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ljr'aj Z/ f 1 (7 '2 I Z \f 9 l/ \f m l A I pd ilk Oct. 2, 1928. 1,685,964

. W. W. SMITH ET AL ELECTRIC TORSION POWER METER Filed July 22, 1924 s Sheets-Sheet a F g/1 /Z' f WENT 140/00/777/[5777/7/7 m jfaberfWint/w fl ATTORNEY I eitherthe torsion or to mitting power,

30 shipboard have had to shaft revolutions, etc. interferes with other duties and the result PatentedDct. 2. 1928.

UNITED @STATES" PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM w smnrn AND ROBERT w. ERICKSON, 0 JERsEY CITY, NEW JEEsEY.

ELECTRIC Tension PowE METER.

Application filed July 22,

p This invention relates to a basically novel apparatus for measuring torque or power transmitted by shafts or similar machine ele- -ments and aims. to-

horsepower of a revolving power member can be instantaneously measured and indicated. Theapparatus provides means whereby the twist or torsional deflection of a rotating shaft which is transmay be measured by suitable calibration of a recording instrument forming part of the apparatus. The measurement may be indicated in degrees of torsion or angular deflection between two points on the shaft, and by taking intoconsidera tion the speed or revolutions per minute of the shaft the meter may be calibrated in units of, power such as horsepower, horsepower 1 hours, kilowatt hours or other units 1n which '20 time as .well as force is the element.

l/Vhile not limited thereto the apparatus is of particular value on shipboard as it enables the chief engineer or other oflicers to quickly ascertain the power being delivered to the propeller shaft at any instant or to a show the total-number of horsepower hours or other units of power used for a given trip or during any desired period. Heretofore,'

..to learn such" facts engineers or officers on I resort to calculation which involve taking the meter readings of This takes time and is that frequently the engineer is not fully informed concerning the power performance of his vessel.

Our invention provides means for overcoming these difliculties and enables the en- [Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying draw-ingsin which 1 Fig. 1 illustrates diagrammatically one form of our improved apparatus;

Fig. 2 1s a diagrammatic view illustrating ing the alternative apparatus;

Fig. 3-illustrates a modification;

Fig}; is a diagrammatic viewshowing the elements of a piece of apparatus shown in Fig. 3;"

Figs. 5 and-6 are diagrams graphically showingthe phase relations between currents provide means whereby which 1924. Serial EH0.- 7273472;

front elevations of an alternative form of meter;

Fig. 10 is a view illustrating two adjacent portions of a shaft coupled to one another by 1 a yielding member whose torsion or defiection can be measured by theapparatus k embodying our invention;

Fig. 11 is a view illstrating a modificatio n; Fig- 12 isa section on line 12-12 of Fig. 11. The apparatus is based on the principle that the twisting moment or torsion in a shaft transmitting power is proportional to the amount of torque transmitted. We provide means spaced snufliciently far apart on the shaft so that the deflection'thereof can be recorded by the use of electrical devices to be presently described. T For measuring the magnitude of twist or torsion on the shaft between two J given points, we provide means adjacent each point for generating'an electriocur'rent and carry the two currents'to suitable meters or other apparatus which is so designed that the phase relations of such currentscan be determined.

Our apparatus is so designed that the displacement in phase of the two currents thus generated is proportional to the angular twist of the shaft." Now inasmuch as the angular twist in the shaft is proportional to the torque transmitted and the phase displace- 4 ment in the currents producedis proportional to the torsion of the shaft, it"follows that by a suitably calibrated meter for measuring the phase relations of the two currents generated, We can readily indicate the twist or torsion in the'shaft under various operating loads.

' The current producing devices, driven by the power shaft at different points may take I In Figs. .1 and 2 we have shown generators Gr and G for producing these currents-and in Fig. 7 we have illustrated an alternative piece of apparatus can be used as a substitute forthe en different forms.

erators.

and as shown "in these figires. are driving A Referring first to Fig. 1, A and B reprecuit 0 measurement required.

gears which mesh with pinions carried on the armature shafts of the generators G and G The field coils of the generators are excited b means of a direct current of electricity furmshed from a suitable source of power such as indicated diagrammatically by the battery B. The enerator G sends a current through a coil 0 the current passing by way of cir- Similarly, the generator G sends a current through a coil C through the circuit 0 The coils C and G act on a movable core C which is connected by a link C with the arm of a pointer P which moves over a scald S. This scale is so calibrated that it gives a direct reading in the units of the The phase relations of the currents generated by G and Gr is dependent :upon the angular change in the members A-iand B which in turn is dependent on the angular change or deflection in the a shaft. At zero torque the currents produced winding t Gr and Gr are either in the by the generators directly opposite to same phase or in phases one another. However, subjected to torsional strain'in transmitting power, the phase of the current produced by one generator will be displaced with respect to the phase of the other current an amount proportional to the torsional deflection of the shaft. This phase displacement will .cause a corresponding movement of the pointer which can be read on a calibrated scale S.

Instead of leading two separate circuits to the meter from which the reading of torsion or power is obtained, we may secure the reading by carr ing the current from the generators G an G to a transformer as indicated at T in Fig. 2 wherein the two primarywindings t and t are mounted on one leg of the core 6f the.transformer andithesecondary is mounted on the other leg and connected by means of wires T with a meter T which is similar in construction to a known type of volt meter. The exciting currents sent throu h the coils T and T will set up in the coil f a current which is the resultant of these two currents and the value of this current indicated on T will be proportional to the phase displacement of the two currents passed through the coils t and t. The scale on the meter will be calibrated to give a readgenerator Gr to the phase distherefore also proportional to the torsionor angular twist in the shaft transmitting ower.

Figs. 5 and 6 graphically 1 lustrate the phase displacement of currents set up by the generators G and G In Fig; 5, the curve g represents ing'which is proportional and the dotted curve 9 that roduced by generator as. ordinates and the values of time or motlon are plotted as abscissae. At zero torque o the power shaftthe'curves g and 9 will be when the shaft is P phase displacement the current produced by the- G. In this figure the instantaneousvalues of current are plotted:

being so designed. and adjusted that under this condition the currents set up thereby will be in absolute phase or synchronism. However, when the shaft is transmitting power and a force is applied as indicated, for example at P in Fig. 1, against a resistance at the end of the shaft indicated at B, one. end of the shaft will slightly twist with respect to the other-and therefore one generator will lead the other and thereby set up a current out of phase with that set up by the other. This phase displacement is indicated by the distance marked 01 in. Fig. 5. This distance, of course, is proportional to the angular twist set up in the shaft. This characteristic difference is indicated by the various types of meters and similar apparatus herein described all of which are responsive to the phase displacements of currents set up by diiferent current producing members located at 'diiferent points on the power shaft or other member transmitting the torque.

Of course, instead of having the generators set to produce currents in absolute phase or synchronism at zero torque the generators may be set to produce currents in opposition as illustrated in Fig. 6 wherein g and 9 illustrate respectively the currents set up by the generators G and G; and'in which the is indicated by the distance d. Or' it will be appreciated'that instead of havin the generators initially set tooperate in'p ase or direct opposition the displacement may be determined from other angles the idea being that each set up the same kind of current and the displacement may point in the characteristic curve showing the value of the current; And while throughout this description for convenience of illustration, we have ref it is to be understood that may be reckoned from variations in phase of the E. M. F. in substantially the same manner.

In Figs. 3 and 4, we have illustrated means whereby the actual curves representing the current value will be shown. In these figures instead of a meter we have shown a double 0 of known construction which to show the curves g and g current values set up by the generators G and G The mechanism of the oscillograph for tracing one curve is shown in a diagrammatic manner in Fig. 4 in which a is an are light which projects a beam of light through a lens Z to the minute mirror on a galvanometer movement R. From this mirror the beam is reflected through a lens Z to a mirror E which is oscillated synchronously in a plane perpendicular to the plane of oscillation of the galvanometer mirror. From the mirror E the oscillograph is arranged corresponding to the f beam of light is focused on a screen W Where the point of light traces a curve correspondbereckoned from any chosen erred to current value the displacement generator will 50 other suitable units. It 1s advantageous to ing to the Value of current sent through the galvanolneter R. The galvanometer indicates the value of the current and the mirror E deflecting the beam perpendicular to the galvanometer movement indicates the tlme or cycle. The shutter V closes on the return stroke of the mirror and is operated in synchronism with the cycles of current sent through the galvanometer G. The shut-- ter and mirror E must be moved in synchro nlsm or at the same frequency as the cycles of current and this may be accomplished byoperating the same by means of a flexible shaft'F as shown in Fig. 3- or by means of a 1 both the generators Gr and G apparatus.

'ductlon principle and includes a metal disc will also use a'similar disc B in place of the separate synchronous motor operated from either circuit a or 0 The oscillograph is preferably of double construction so that the curves representing the current values of are produced simultaneously so that the phase displacement of the currents may 'be visually observed. 4

In Figs. 8 and 9 is shown a typeof meter adapted to be used in connection with the generators, G and G forming part of our This meter operates on the in- M free toturn on the axis XY. Laminated iron cores M and M straddle the disc and p are provided with coils m and m which are connected in. the circuits 0 and 0 leading to the generators G? and G In operation the currents in the coils m and m magnetize the cores M and M with a.- flux that is constantly changing; This changing flux generates a. corresponding current in the disc M which circulates partly under the poles of the opposite core. When the currents in the coils m and m are in phase (or in opposition) there is no reaction, but; when the phase of these currents are displaced With respect to one another,'a torque is set up in the disc 'M which causes it to turn. The shaft of this disc may be connectedwith apointer moving over a suitable scale or may be connected as shown to a train of gears which connect with movable dials whereby each would turn over a long period of time so as to permit readings to be taken in terms, for example, of horsepower hours, kilowatt hours 'or' construct this meter in such way that any change in the exciting current supplies to the. circuit 0 for the generators G and G Will be automatically compensated since a change in the current of circuit 0 will cause a corresponding change (subject to. conditions) in the currents produced by the generators G and G To compensate for such changes this meter is preferably provided with a third magnetic yoke Q, similar to the yokes M and M except that it-is wound with a. coil Q adapted to be excited by the current flowing in the circuit 0 which excites the field windings of the generators G and G 5 This'yoke'Q will have a constant flux and will generate a current in the .disc M whenever the same is moved and will, therefore, have-"a retarding effect which will increase withthe increase of flux or current in the circuit 0. the circuit a (of Fig. 1) be increased or decreased it would have the effect of. increasc and 0 but with the compensating yoke Q of Fig. 8 this increase or decrease will in-- crease or decrease the retarding efi'ec-t thus automatically compensating for fluctuations of the torque or speed of the disc M.

In the foregoing description We have referred to generators G and Gr producing the Therefore should the current in ing or decreasingv the voltage of the circuits currents whose displacement in phase is regear B shown in Fig. 1. The discs A and B will coact with magnetic yokes N and N provided with three poles U, U and U Each yoke is preferably made of laminated magnetic material and the poles U and'U are magnetized at opposite polarities and in some cases may be permanent magnets although we prefer to provide the poles U and U with windings u and u which are connected with one another by suitable wires eading to the circuit'C shown for example inFig.1. I i v v The'yoke N is normally stationary and is secured in proximity to the toothed disc A and is so proportioned with respect to the spacing of the teeth on the disc that the teeth on the disc in revolving, alternately form a magnetic ath for poles U and U through the pole Therefore, the pole U Wlll have arm-alternating or changing magnetic flux sent' through it and consequently will generate a changing or alternating current in the 0011 M which is in the circuit 0 This coil is connected with wires a which correspond to the wires forming circuit 0 leading from the gen erator G of Fig.1; There will be a similar yoke N and a toothed disc located at the end of the shaft to take the place of disc gear B and generator G 2. These discs, yokes and coils will set up currents of similar wave form but the phase relations of such currents will be displaced in proportiondo the twist in the shaft in the same manneras the currents set up b the generators G and Gr are displaced as a ove described. Thus the angular (position of the yokes N with respect to the-discs A may be adjusted so as to bring the movement (on the chronism or opposition as the case may be, the deflection of the shaft may be ascertained. This is also true in the case of the generators G and G it being possible to adjust these generators angularly and by'ineasuring the angular movement of one generator with respect to the other to bring the currents into opposition or into exact phase, the deflection of the shaft may also be determined.

Fig. 11 illustrates the manner of mounting the generators G and G in such way that their angular displacement may be measured. As-shown, generator G ed for movement in the direction concentric with the axis of the power transmitting shaft whose torque is to be measured. For example, the generator G is provided with an arcuate dovetailed base 30 which slidingly engages an arcuate base 20 having scale markings 22 thereon of movement of the generator. The generator will be provided with a suitable pointer 24. A hand wheel'26 carried by a shaft 27 having a pinion 28 thereon meshing with a rack portion 31 formed on the underside of the dovetailed base 30 will serve as means for moving the generator G relatively to the gener- V ator G.

It is thus clear that the deflection or amount of angular twist can be determined in several ways as above described. First, by direct reading of electrical instrumentswhich are responsive to changes in phase relation of the two currents produced by generators at different points on ashaft. Second, by direct observation of current'curves produced by direct visual indication produced by an os-.

cillograph arranged to show the phase characteristics of currents produced by generators on different points of the power shaft. Third,

. by direct measurement elther generator on the shaft required to. brlng the relationship of two currents into phase, opposition, or other chosen value. I

From the foregoing, itis'clear that the apparatus describe will clearly enable a reading to be taken of the twist or ,angula'r deflection of a shaft which is transmitting power. If the revolutions per unit of time of the shaft are taken into account we have all the elements necessary. to obtain the horsepower being transmitted by the shaft. The formula for determining the horsepower where T==the torsional readily is fixed to a rigidbase 21 and generator G is mount} 1 frequency with the variations in the shaft revolufor indicating the anglev The various power meters of the movement of v 21rXT 33000 moment in pounds at one foot radius necessary to give a shaft deflection of one degree. This formula may be further condensed by calibrating each meter to the particular shaft to which it is applied, in which case the formula becomes H.-P.=RXM where H1P.=the horsepower.

R =the revolutions per minute. 7 M =the meter reading.

If the revolutions of the shaft is a constant quantity it may be taken into account when calibrating the meter in which case B may be eliminated, which reduces the formula to H. P.=M. The meters herein described automatically take into account the revolutions of the shaft per unit of time since the of the actuating circuits 0 and c vary tions. Inasmuch as H. P. is a value which takes into account torque and speed and the meters herein described are responsive to these that they integrate two values and give changes in both torque and speed, it follows a direct reading of the horsepower being transmitted by ashaft or similar power transmitting unit.

While we have described the apparatus with particular reference to measuring the deflection and power it will be appreciated that the apparatus can be used in other connections and we have diaammatically shown in Fi 10 twoshaft sections S and S coupled y a spring S or other yielding connection. It will be apreciated that members A and B correspond ing to those shown inthe other figures may,

transmitted by a shaft,

be connected to the shafts S and S soas to measure the deflection of the yielding member S or the power transmitted b these elements. erein described being responsive to electric current, variations can be conveniently'located at different stations on board ship by merely installing the meter at the'desired location and carrying the wiring to the current generators 0011- nected to the power shaft. .Usually there will be several meter fone on the working platform of the engin in, one on thenavigating bridge, others; M he chief engineers, or other ofiicers cabins, one in-the chart room, and so forth. These, ofcourse, will all show the same'reading,-hence'the power performanoe of the prime mover can be ascertained torque of said shaft, the

In ships having more than one power or propeller shaft, We may provide a single meter arranged for indicating the total power of a plurality of shafts or may use a separate meter for each shaft and add the readings to obtain the total.

Though we have described the invention With great particularity it is not to be construced that We are limited to the circuit arrangements or meters and various apparatus diagrammatically shown as modifications and substitution of equivalents may be made without departing from the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What we claim is 1. An apparatus of the class described co1nprising means for measuring torsion including two current producing members operativel connected to the member whose torsion is to e measured and an oscillograph for indicating the phase relations between the currents produced by said members whereby the torsion can be determined, said oscillograph being actuated by said currents.

2.; An apparatus of the class described comprising means for producing two electric currents Whose phase relations are proportional to the torsion of a'given member and means operated by said currents for graphicallyinicating the phase relations of said. currents. 3.. An apparatus of the class described comprising means for determining the twist or torsional deflection between two points of a I shaft including two generators operatively connected with the shaft and means respons1ve to currents from said generators for making a graph lndicating the phase displacement of the currents produced by said generators. g

4. An apparatus for measuring and indi: cating the instantaneous value in units of horsepower being transmitted by a shaft,

comprising current producing members operating at a speed proportional to that of the shaft and connected therewith at different points along the shaft and means responsive to the currents produced by said members for indicating the torque transmitted at a given frequency, said means being arranged to give an integrated reading in units of horsepower. v

'In witness whereof, we have hereunto signed our names.

WILLIAM W. SBHTH.

ROBERT W. ERICKSON. 

